Cornish named CFL’s outstanding Canadian

Allen Cameron, Calgary Herald11.23.2012

Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish was named the Most Outstanding Canadian during the Gibson’s Finest CFL Players Awards at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Thursday.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish shares a celebratory moment with his mother Margaret Cornish as they admire the Most Outstanding Canadian trophy that he won on Thursday in Toronto.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Calgary Stampeders' Jon Cornish catches a pass and runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of their CFL football game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Calgary, Alberta October 20, 2012. REUTERS/Todd Korol
/ Postmedia News

Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish practises with the team on Thursday in Toronto.Colleen De Neve
/ Calgary Herald

Related

TORONTO - It was Jon Cornish’s evening, but he was more about the people who came before him.

For instance, there was former Calgary Stampeder receiver Dave Sapunjis, a two-time winner of the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award.

And there was Normie Kwong, the legendary running back whose 56-year-old record for most yards ever gained by a Canadian player Cornish broke this season.

And, yes, there was the man Cornish replaced midway through last season as the Stampeders’ feature tailback, Joffrey Reynolds.

Cornish paid tribute to all of them on Thursday night at Koerner Hall on the University of Toronto campus as he went 1-for-2 at the Gibson’s Finest CFL Player Awards, becoming the first Stamp since Sapunis in 1995 to win the Most Outstanding Canadian award and then bowing to Toronto Argonauts returner/receiver Chad Owens for the Most Outstanding Player Award.

“(Stamps offensive lineman) Dimitri Tsoumpas told me I had big shoes to fill,” said Cornish as he spoke to the media following the ceremony. “Joffrey Reynolds is a future hall-of famer and I really didn’t understand that I was taking his job. For me, it was just a smooth transition and he didn’t make any fuss about it. But reality was that I took his job and didn’t really appreciate that fact.”

Cornish garnered 54 of the 57 votes cast by members of the Football Reporters of Canada and CFL head coaches for the Outstanding Canadian award, beating out Montreal Alouettes linebacker Shea Emry.

In the MOP voting, Owens took 41 of the 57 votes.

In his first full season as a starter, the 28-year-old New Westminster, B.C., product led the league in rushing with 1,457 yards, breaking Kwong’s 56-year-old record for Canadian running backs by 20 yards.

In the process, Cornish also became the first Canadian to win the rushing title since Orville Lee of the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1988.

“It’s a tremendous honour, and at this point of my career it’s the biggest accolade I’ve ever received,” he said. “I’m thankful to the people who voted, but more so I’m thankful to my teammates. If they hadn’t done as well on defence, if they hadn’t blocked as well, caught the ball as well, thrown the ball as well as they have, I would not be standing here today.”

Cornish posted the seventh-best single-season total in Stampeder franchise history while sharing the league lead with 11 rushing touchdowns with Saskatchewan’s Kory Sheets.

Cornish, who paid tribute to Emry, Kwong, B.C. Lions Canadian running back Andrew Harris and former Stampeder receiver Dave Sapunjis (a two-time winner of the award), won the league’s Canadian Player of the Month award for the final three months of the regular season, and also won seven Canadian Player of the Week awards as well as an Offensive Player of the Week honour.

It’s the sixth time a Stampeder has won the award; Sapunjis did it in 1995 and ’93, receiver Terry Evanshen won in 1967, defensive back Harvey Wylie in 1962 and offensive lineman Tony Pajaczkowski in 1961.

But there will be no celebrating until after Sunday’s Grey Cup, said Cornish.

“Oh, I wouldn’t celebrate anyways,” he said. “There’s one goal in my mind. I have football practice, my playbook, all those things that are more important at this particular time. Now, when Grey Cup is over? That’s a different story. Lots of celebrating to be done.”

Owens, in his fourth CFL season, set a record for combined yardage in helping lead the Argos into Sunday’s game.

“I’ve got plenty of motivation; I just want to go out there and be the best every time I step on the field,” said Owens. “That’s why we play. We don’t play to be second place.”

Other winners announced during the evening included Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Chris Matthews as the Most Outstanding Rookie (beating out B.C. Lions defensive lineman Jabar Westerman), Jovan Olafioye of the B.C. Lions as the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman (beating out Josh Bourke of the Montreal Alouettes), Edmonton Eskimos J.C. Sherritt as the Most Outstanding Defensive Player (beating out Emry and Chris Williams of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player (beating out B.C. returner Tim Brown).

Montreal Alouettes receiver Brian Bratton won the Tom Pate Memorial Award for his leadership on the field and in his community.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Saskatoon loves its Christmas lights. The Enchanted Forest draws thousands of vehicles each week. The late Bob Hinitt worked for months building his light display, which drew thousands of cars each year to Wiggins Avenue. And Scott Lambie on Clinkskill Drive has continued the tradition with more than 70,000 dancing lights (up from 50,000 last […]

When it comes to gift giving, they say it’s the thought that counts. But many are wondering if Mayor Drew Dilkens was thinking at all when he gave Olympic superstar Michael Phelps — whose battles with booze are well known — a big bottle of Canadian Club whisky.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.